Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) Nexus 4 is all set to hit shelves in Australia next week, so comparisons with its peers are already doing the rounds. The phone has been designed in such a manner that it is not too heavy and users feel comfortable when holding it. The power/lock key and volume buttons are more favorably positioned as well.

Let us go through its specifications one by one:

Screen

The model has a 4.7in true HD IPS display that enhances battery efficiency and has a resolution of 1280x768, which gives it a pixel density of 318ppi, only slightly lower than 326ppi offered by iPhone 5. Whites are quite bright with the text being clear when zoomed out, although the color reproduction could be better.

Software

Google Nexus 4 is the 1st Android phone to be powered with the latest 4.2 version of Google's mobile operating system, known as Jelly Bean. The new gesture typing improves the ability for adding widgets to the home screen, expendable notifications, and a new quick settings menu, accessible by swiping the notifications panel with two fingers. The Google Now personal assistant has been upgraded and now uses a person’s Gmail account for sourcing data. Google Maps will of course be present, which is an area where Nexus 4 clearly scores over iPhone 5, because Apple released its own mapping tool, which is flawed and has glitches galore.

Camera

The Google Nexus 4 comes with a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video calls and a rear-facing 8-megapixel camera for photos and video capture. A 360 degree panorama mode, called the photo sphere is present, using which users can take photos of one place in multiple directions including above and below. The iPhone 5 takes excellent pictures too especially in low light. Their macro performance is amazing and the lens can focus on close range objects swiftly.

The Google Nexus 4 is priced at $349, but the hardware being modeled on LG Optimus G, which is all set to launch next year and at double the rate of Nexus, certainly provides a good deal. Just imagine that you are buying a phone with a value of $700-800 with less than $400!